Is God a member of the Hollywood Foreign Press?
Because that's the only reason I can think of to explain why Sarah Paulson was nominated for a Golden Globe award tonight. Paulson, who plays a Christian comedienne on "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip," was up for "Supporting Actress, Series, Miniseries or Movie." She competed with heavyweights Toni Collette and Elizabeth Perkins, as well as relative newcomers Emily Blunt and Katherine Heigl. Fortunately, the award didn't end up in Paulson's undeserving hands (Blunt got it).
Look, I don't want to bash Paulson, who appears be not only a competent actress (she was solid on Jack & Jill), but also a nice person. However, I think she's horribly miscast on "Studio 60." She's got the sexily sweet, pious-but-not-preachy side of Harriet Hayes down just fine. But (and this is a ginormous but) she's not funny! Not at all. Paulson's delivery on the show is painful to watch, and she seems to be shocked when her overly earnest one-liners are greeted with laughter -- even if it's scripted or canned. The idea that this terribly self-conscious, poker-faced everywoman is supposed to be one of America's most impressive comedic talents, one that inspires Matthew Perry's character to write hilarious skits, and one that wins her awards and movie roles, strains the show's credibility. It's not that I hate Paulson on the show, it's that I hate her in this role.
So why the heck was she singled out from a great group of women (Amanda Peet, Lucy Davis, Amanda Peet, Amanda Peet) for an award? It must have been divine intervention.